NHL sends memo to all 30 teams reminding them that they cannot offer a contract or sign a FA until tomorrow. This "free" period is for interviews only. The exception of course as for players already bought out as they became a FA the instant they were bought out.

Penalties will apply to anyone circumventing this. One assumes that means tampering.

If Raymond is on your top line your team is brutal..... 29th to 30th. If he is in your top 6 you are definitely not a playoff team. He is a decent player but to expect 60 - 70 points is laughable considering he has one 50 point year and his season avg is less than 40 points a year.

Rumsfeld wrote:Surprised Alberts wasn't re-upped. Played well at the end of the season, big, tough, presumably cheap.

I bet Tampa will sign him as they love former Canuck players.

But yeah I thought he was a great 7th dman, playing 50 games or so a season, maybe if he doesn't sign anywhere fast he could come back but on a much cheaper contract, as he is/was making way too much for his role @$1.225M per.

Canucks are going to have to go bargain basement hunting this offseason, signing a lot of $750K - $800K per types to fill in the roster.

BCExpat wrote:The rumor on Calpuck is that Mason Raymond will be signing a contract with the Flames tomorrow. Well, if nothing else, the Flames will be a fast team next year, especially if Poirier makes the team.

How do you people live with yourselves? Christ.

The Flames are at the beginning of a re-build. It's not going to happen over night. They will be at the bottom of the league in the standings for at least a few years, if not more. I am resigned to the fact that they will suck for a long time. I don't expect a lot from the Flames. I just want them to re-build through the draft. I can live with that

Hearing some merit to Iginla rumours although Canucks have not talked cap or term, they can't until tomorrow, but there is mutual interest. But Canucks won't over more than 2 years I am hearing. Don't know about the cap. One friend told me only a slight chance he ends up here as he will get more elsewhere. Canucks won't offer up what he thinks he should get so it depends upon the other rumours that he wants to be closer to his family. One friend told me he still wants to chase a cup so I wouldn't be surprised to see him take less to go to LA or stay in Pittsburg.